The Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Foundation, University of Toledo College of Law, and Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law have launched Lawyers = Justice: A Northwest Ohio Legal Collaborative, a three-year initiative to expand legal access in rural areas. The program, supported by a $1.465 million grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation and in-kind contributions, will operate clinics in Bowling Green and Lima, serving residents across 10 counties.
The initiative addresses a critical shortage: 78 of Ohio's 88 counties are classified as legal deserts, with fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents. Michelle L. Kranz, founding partner of Zoll & Kranz and former president of the Ohio State Bar Association, emphasized the real-world consequences: "A legal problem can threaten a family's stability, a farm's future or a small business's survival, and those consequences do not become less serious because the nearest attorney is an hour away. This initiative addresses today's need for counsel while creating a real reason for young lawyers to put down roots in the communities they serve."
The program will support four newly licensed attorney fellows each year as they build sustainable private practices, while providing up to 40 law students with supervised experience. Organizers project that combined efforts could expand legal access for approximately 720 people annually. Services will cover family law, estate planning, real estate, consumer protection, small-business concerns, criminal law, and agriculture-related issues, with fellows also representing clients who earn too much for legal aid but cannot afford traditional fees.
Kranz, a Wood County resident with direct familiarity with rural issues, noted the importance of holistic understanding: "Rural communities need lawyers who understand that a land-use decision, an estate plan and the future of a family operation may all be connected. Building that kind of trust takes time. By pairing practical service with training and mentorship, Lawyers = Justice gives new attorneys the opportunity to become part of the community rather than simply pass through it."
The University of Toledo will oversee the Bowling Green clinic serving Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Ottawa, and Wood counties, while Ohio Northern will expand its Lima clinic to reach Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Putnam, and Van Wert counties. Recruitment of fellows and students begins in September 2026, with clinics fully operational later in the fall. The collaborative is seen as a potential model for other Ohio regions facing similar shortages.
